Jane Parent, a member of the
Kalamazoo Animal Liberation League, holds a sign on Farm Lane in front
of Giltner Hall on Sunday in protest of MSUís inhumane acts toward lab
animals. Parent was protesting to let people know that MSU has been
charged by the USDA on several counts of maltreatment toward lab
animals.

By KARI NEERING
The State News Monday, April 20, 1998

"Imagine having your body left to science Ö while youíre
still in it" ó those were the words on one of several posters erected by a
small group of animal rights activists who demonstrated in front of
Giltner Hall on Sunday afternoon.

"Weíre starting to educate the public on whatís going on
with animals," said Michael Budkie, director of Stop Animal Exploitation
Now, an animal activist group in Milford, Ohio. "MSU has long been
involved in animal mistreatment."

Budkie and about five other activists from different
cities and animal rights groups held up signs promoting animal rights in
front of the hall, which is used for microbiology and physiology research
and teaching, and spoke of MSUís alleged history of mistreating animals.

But Jerry Dodgson, chairperson of the Department of
Microbiology, said the groupís accusations were inaccurate and misleading
to the public.

"I disagree (with their comments)," he said. "The
university has a mechanism set up which reviews all animal use."

U-M alumni Tiiu Ruben, who represented the Michigan
Animal Rights to Society in the demonstration, said animal abuse is
happening at MSU and that is what brought the different organizations
together.

"Itís an issue that weíre all aware of and thatís what
brought us here," she said. "Itís inhumane and itís cruel."

Other groups represented included the Kalamazoo Animal
Liberation League and West Michigan for Animals, located in Grand
Rapids.

Budkie said, according to a United States Department of
Agriculture report his group filed for under the Freedom of Information
Act, MSU received three official warnings from 1992-94 and a $600 fine for
violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

"If a person gets three (violations) for driving under
the influence, they get their driverís license taken away," Budkie said.
"Why should this be any different?"

But university spokesman Terry Denbow said any
accusations made by the demonstrators are insignificant because the
violations were minor and taken care of long ago.

"Our reputation and record is exemplary," he said.
"There had been some minor issues but they have been addressed."